A glimpse of Odegaard is enough to show he will improve this Arsenal team

Even after just two substitute appearances Martin Odegaard had proved he will improve this Arsenal team and help Mikel Arteta steer the Gunners into the top half of the Premier League

By Adam Le Roux

It may be early days, but Martin Odegaard already looks to be a breath of fresh air in this Arsenal team.

With just two substitute appearances to his name since his deadline day loan switch from Real Madrid, the Norwegian has seen his game time limited since moving to the Emirates, but from what we have seen so far the signs look promising.

The 22-year-old’s calmness and composure on the ball wherever he gets it on the pitch is something that the Gunners have been lacking so far this season, with the pressure of playing catchup in the Premier League seemingly getting to some of the squad this campaign.

But with a renewed sense of purpose after making the move from the Spanish capital, you can already tell that the new recruit will add an extra dimension to Mikel Arteta’s side going forward, and it won’t be a second too late.

Martin makes things happen

You can already sense it when he gets his foot on the ball, Martin Odegaard is a man with a plan, and he knows just what to do and when to do it.

He’s got that creative spark, and that boundless energy that Arsenal have been lacking so dearly this season in the final third, and he looks hungry for goals - whether that be creating them or scoring them.

During his time on the pitch at Villa Park, the Norwegian starlet had a 96% passing success rate, with the chemistry with his teammates already starting to blossom despite only being in London for a little over a week.

Whenever he picked the ball up, he was always looking forward and searching for a way to unlock the Villa defence, and had a sense of urgency as if he was playing for a club he had grown up supporting.

That sort of tenacity and determination can often been found lacking in Arsenal sides of late, with his predecessor Mesut Ozil more often the scapegoat for such accusations in the past.

Slowly but surely, Arteta is finally getting his blueprint across on his side, and Odegaard is the latest addition that can add a spark when the Gunners come forward, with the exuberance of youth on his side.

Once he gets into his groove, we can expect plenty more fireworks throughout this season, with a partnership with any of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette or Bukayo Saka likely to get Arsenal fans on the edge of their sofas.

The mobility of Saka and Emile Smith Rowe - who has been a revelation since Christmas - would play perfectly into the hands of the creative midfielder, who has the vision to pick a pass to either of the pair as they go forward, with Kieran Tierney’s forward runs also likely to be on his radar.

Odegaard looks set to galvanise Gunners

Sometimes a new signing can easily put a few noses out of joint when he joins a club, with players already at the club looking over their shoulder at the new recruit uneasily as they fear for their place in the side.

But luckily for Odegaard, Ozil was out the door before he even got here, and with a flexible front four in operation, there are plenty of places that he can fit into the side.

After taking up a berth on the right-hand side when he took the field at Villa Park, it is clear to see that he is just as comfortable playing on the flank, as well as in the hole behind the striker, where he can find the space to provide his precise passes to the strikers.

Even on the wings, he has the brains and pace to beat a man, and pick out a teammate either in the box or better positioned, adding another string to Arsenal’s attacking bow in the process.

Operating just behind the Norwegian will be fellow new import Thomas Partey, who joined the Gunners from Atletico Madrid in the summer, and the Ghanaian is looking forward to linking up with his new teammate on the pitch.

The pair have come up against each other in the past, with Odegaard featuring for both Real Madrid and Real Sociedad in La Liga, and his old adversary knows just how much he can change a game in an instant.

“It’s difficult when you play against him,” Partey said of Arsenal’s new number 11.

“I remember playing against him, he’s so intelligent, he is always quick on the ball, he doesn’t give you a chance to win the ball.

“It’s amazing to have him here. I hope he has a great season and he’s able to help us achieve what we want to achieve.”

With Leeds United coming to the Emirates this weekend, it would be a travesty if Odegaard doesn’t make it into the starting lineup for the visit of Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

Give him a chance from the first whistle and he will show exactly what he can do to teams, and with Leeds the sort of team who play a wide open game, the new man will have the perfect platform to showcase just what he can bring to this Arsenal team.

Photo Credit: Getty Images